Grantham family’s baby joy as dad delivers his son

With new baby Andrew Robert Kendal Gunnett, are from left, Kristianna Coupland, Andrew Gunnett and Carla Gunnet.

Published:07:13Saturday 25 February 2017

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A father delivered his baby son on Tuesday when his wife suddenly went into labour.

Andrew Gunnett was at home with his wife, Carla, when she went into labour at 11.30pm on Monday. He called a midwife who had to travel from Sleaford.

By the time she reached the Gunnett home on the outskirts of Grantham, baby Andrew Robert Kendal had arrived safe and sound in the front room of their home. He was born at 12.40am, weighing 7lb 10oz.

Andrew Junior’s arrival has ended a tumultuous four months for the family who were lucky to escape a devastating fire which totally gutted their council home in Swinstead in October. They had to be temporarily rehoused in Stamford before finally moving into their new home a month ago.

Incredibly, Andrew, a Grantham taxi driver and father of nine, has now delivered four of his children, one of them in a hospital lift when it got stuck.

Andrew, 43, said of the birth: “We couldn’t get a midwife here in time. There was no panic. Like I said, I have done it before so it was just a case of get on with it.

“My eldest daughter helped me. I called her up and she came straight over.

“The midwife turned up and stayed for about an hour and a half. Then the next day we were out and about with Andrew.”

Kristianna, 26, said the baby appeared with the chord around his neck, but they managed to unwind it. Andrew said he simply ‘juggled’ the baby around to get the chord off.

She said: “When I got the phone call I was straight in the car and came over. I had only been home for an hour after looking after the kids at the house anyway.”

She said she had never helped with a birth before and “nearly cried” when the baby was born, as it was such an emotional moment.

She added: “If it’s going to happen, then you just have to deal with it. The main thing was the chord around his neck, but it was OK in the end.”

Carla, 22, was nine days overdue and only the previous evening had been for a scan. She was due to be induced yesterday.

Carla said: “They did a great job, but then to be fair they had no choice!

“I am really happy now. The family is settling in to the house and things are back on track. Andrew is doing well.”